Nagorik Committee, an organisation of indigenous people, began an indefinite road barricade in Khagrachhari yesterday demanding withdrawal of Bangalee settlers from Gamaridala and Kamalchhari areas.

No vehicle plied the Khagrachhari-Mohalchhari, Khagrachhari-Dighnala and Khagrachhari-Panchhari roads as those were barricaded at many points.

However vehicles were seen on Khagrachhari-Chittagong and Khagrachhari-Feni-Dhaka routes under special security arrangements.

The Nagorik Cominittee said Bangalee settlers have occupied lands of indigenous people.

But some Bangalee settlers, when contacted, refuted Nagorik Committee's claim, saying 30 Bangalee families constructed houses years ago on lands given by the government.

The land ownership issue created tension between Bangalees and indigenous people in the hills. On Sunday, over 200 Bangalees staged a token hunger strike in Khagrachhari town demanding immediate steps by the government to settle the issue.

The road barricades has paralised life in the district. Parents and guardians of SSC (Secondary Certificate Examination) are worried that the indefinite road barricade could put their wards in great trouble during the examination, which will begin across the country soon.

The district administration has taken security to avoid any untoward incident during the road barricade programme. Army and police teams have been deployed at strategic points in the town and elsewhere in the district.

A road without vehicle in Khagrachhari during a barricade programme enforced yesterday by Nagorik Committee, an organisation of indigenous people in the district. PHOTO: STAR